Crop cart unloading system

ABSTRACT

A crop cart unloading system for efficiently unloading a harvested crop from a crop cart. The crop cart unloading system generally includes a hopper having a floor conveyor movably positioned with respect to a lower floor, a plurality of sidewalls extending upwardly from the lower floor, an unloading door movably connected to an unloading end of the hopper, and an upper opening defined by an upper edge of the plurality of sidewalls for receiving a field crop. The hopper is pivotally connected to a support frame having a plurality of wheels. A first actuator is connected between the support frame and the hopper to lift the unloading end of the hopper. An unloading conveyor is attached to the unloading end of the hopper to receive and discharge a field crop from the hopper.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.16/297,822 filed on Mar. 11, 2019 which issues as U.S. Pat. No.10,834,874 on Nov. 17, 2020, which is a continuation of U.S. applicationSer. No. 15/613,378 filed on Jun. 5, 2017 now issued as U.S. Pat. No.10,225,986, which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.14/735,611 filed on Jun. 10, 2015 now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 9,668,423.Each of the aforementioned patent applications, and any applicationsrelated thereto, is herein incorporated by reference in their entirety.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not applicable to this application.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to a crop cart and morespecifically it relates to a crop cart unloading system for efficientlyunloading a harvested crop from a crop cart.

Description of the Related Art

Any discussion of the related art throughout the specification should inno way be considered as an admission that such related art is widelyknown or forms part of common general knowledge in the field.

Crop carts are used to receive a crop from a harvester directly in thefield during harvest. Crop carts can also be used to transport seed to aplanter. Crop carts are typically used to receive, transport and unloadvarious types of field crops such as, but not limited to, sugar beets,carrots, potatoes, onions, tomatoes, cucumbers, corn silage and thelike. Conventional crop carts are comprised of a trailer that is pulledby a tractor through the field next to the harvester. Conventional cropcarts include an open topped hopper that receives various volumes ofharvested crop from the harvester in real-time. When the hopper of thecrop shuttle is full, the crop cart is transported to a location in thefield to unload to a truck or other transport device using an unloadingconveyor at the front of the hopper. The hopper includes a floorconveyor that moves the crop forwardly towards the unloading conveyorwhere the unloading conveyor is angled upwardly to lift the cropupwardly from the crop shuttle into the transport vehicle.

One problem with conventional crop carts is that the unloading conveyorextends upwardly at a relatively steep angle thereby resulting in thecrop falling downwardly on the unloading conveyor during the unloadingprocedure. When the crop falls downwardly on the unloading conveyor,crops such as sugar beets can become damaged. Another problem withconventional crop carts is that the front unloading conveyor extendsupwardly above the upper edge of the container when in the storageposition thereby creating potential problems of hitting the harvesterduring loading of the crop. Another problem with conventional crop cartsis that they require a significant volume of pressurized hydraulic fluidfrom the tractor pulling the crop cart to unload the crop which someolder tractors are unable to handle.

Because of the inherent problems with the related art, there is a needfor a new and improved crop cart unloading system for efficientlyunloading a harvested crop from a crop cart.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention generally relates to a crop cart unloading system whichincludes a hopper having a floor conveyor movably positioned withrespect to a lower floor, a plurality of sidewalls extending upwardlyfrom the lower floor, an unloading door movably connected to anunloading end of the hopper, and an upper opening defined by an upperedge of the plurality of sidewalls for receiving a field crop. Thehopper is pivotally connected to a support frame having a plurality ofwheels, or tracks. A first actuator is connected between the supportframe and the hopper to lift the unloading end of the hopper. Anunloading conveyor is attached to the unloading end of the hopper toreceive and discharge a field crop from the hopper.

There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, some of the features ofthe invention in order that the detailed description thereof may bebetter understood, and in order that the present contribution to the artmay be better appreciated. There are additional features of theinvention that will be described hereinafter and that will form thesubject matter of the claims appended hereto. In this respect, beforeexplaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is tobe understood that the invention is not limited in its application tothe details of construction or to the arrangements of the components setforth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. Theinvention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced andcarried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that thephraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of thedescription and should not be regarded as limiting.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Various other objects, features and attendant advantages of the presentinvention will become fully appreciated as the same becomes betterunderstood when considered in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings, in which like reference characters designate the same orsimilar parts throughout the several views, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front upper perspective view of the present invention in theloading position.

FIG. 2 is a front upper perspective view of the present invention in theunloading position.

FIG. 3 is a rear upper perspective view of the present invention in theunloading position.

FIG. 4 is a front view of the present invention in the loading position.

FIG. 5a is a front view with the front end of the hopper elevated.

FIG. 5b is a front view with the unloading conveyor partially extended.

FIG. 5c is a front view with the unloading conveyor fully extended at aslight upward angle.

FIG. 5d is a front view with the unloading conveyor fully extended at aslight downward angle.

FIG. 5e is a front view with the unloading conveyor fully extended in asubstantially horizontal manner unloading a field crop.

FIG. 6 is a rear view of the present invention in the unloadingposition.

FIG. 7a is a top view of the present invention in the loading position.

FIG. 7b is a top view of the present invention with the cart elevatedfor the loading position.

FIG. 7c is a top view of the present invention in the unloading positionwith the unloading conveyor extended.

FIG. 7d is a bottom view of the present invention in the unloadingposition with the unloading conveyor extended.

FIG. 8a is a left side view of the present invention in the loadingposition.

FIG. 8b is a right side view of the present invention in the loadingposition.

FIG. 8c is a right side view of the present invention in the unloadingposition.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION A. Overview

Turning now descriptively to the drawings, in which similar referencecharacters denote similar elements throughout the several views, FIGS. 1through 8 c illustrate a crop cart unloading system 10, which comprisesa hopper 20 having a floor conveyor 30 movably positioned with respectto a lower floor 22, a plurality of sidewalls 24 extending upwardly fromthe lower floor 22, an unloading door 28 movably connected to anunloading end of the hopper 20, and an upper opening defined by an upperedge of the plurality of sidewalls 24 for receiving a field crop 14. Thehopper 20 is pivotally connected to a support frame 40 having aplurality of wheels 44 or track system. At least one actuator 50, 52 isconnected between the support frame 40 and the hopper 20 to lift theunloading end of the hopper 20. An unloading conveyor 60 is attached tothe unloading end of the hopper 20 to receive and discharge a field crop14 from the hopper 20. The present invention is capable of being pulledbehind a vehicle similar to a trailer or may have its own engine, aspower assist or to operate as its own vehicle similar to a truck. Thepresent invention is designed for receiving, transporting and unloadingvarious types of field crops 14 such as, but not limited to, sugarbeets, carrots, potatoes, onions, tomatoes, cucumbers, corn silage andthe like. The present invention may be utilized to receive, transportand unload various types of crop seed. The present invention may also beutilized for transporting and receiving non-field crops 14 such as lime.

B. Support Frame

The support frame 40 having a front end, a rear end, a left side and aright side. The support frame 40 includes a longitudinal axis extendingfrom the rear end to the front end of the support frame 40. The supportframe 40 may have various shapes and structures capable of supportingthe hopper 20.

The support frame 40 includes a plurality of wheels 44 rotatablyattached to the sides of the support frame 40 for movably supporting thesupport frame 40 above a ground surface. A first track 46 preferablysurrounds a plurality of wheels 44 on a first side of the support frame40 and a second track 46 preferably surrounds a plurality of wheels 44on a second side of the support frame 40 as illustrated in FIGS. 1through 6 of the drawings.

The support frame 40 includes a hitch 42 adapted for removablyconnecting to a vehicle such as a tractor as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and2 of the drawings. The support frame 40 may be comprised of any type offrame structure capable of supporting the hopper 20 in a movable mannerin a field.

C. Hopper

The hopper 20 has a lower floor 22 and a plurality of sidewalls 24extending upwardly from the lower floor 22 defining an interior cavitythat receives the field crop 14 as illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 3 ofthe drawings. The hopper 20 preferably has an elongated rectangularshape structure having a longitudinal axis extending from a rear end toa front end of the hopper 20 as illustrated in FIG. 7a of the drawings.The longitudinal axis of the hopper 20 is preferably parallel to thelongitudinal axis of the support frame 40. The length and width of thehopper 20 are also preferably similar to the length and width of thesupport frame 40.

An upper opening is defined by an upper edge of the plurality ofsidewalls 24. The upper opening receives the field crop 14 from theharvester as the present invention is pulled alongside a harvester inthe field.

An unloading door 28 is movably connected to an unloading end of thehopper 20 for allowing selective unloading of the field crop 14 in thehopper 20. One or more unloading actuators 29 are connected to thesidewalls 24 of the hopper 20 and the unloading door 28 to move theunloading door 28 into a closed position (FIG. 1) or an open position(FIG. 2). The unloading actuators 29 are preferably hydraulic actuatorscontrolled by the tractor, however, the unloading actuators 29 may beelectro-mechanical actuators. The unloading door 28 is preferablypivotally attached at an upper end thereof to or near the upper edge ofthe sidewalls 24 as shown in FIGS. 1 through 3 of the drawings. Theunloading door 28 is preferably positioned at the front end of thehopper 20 but may alternatively be positioned at the rear end of thehopper 20.

A floor conveyor 30 is movably positioned with respect to the lowerfloor 22 to move the field crop 14 in the hopper 20. A drive motor movesthe floor conveyor 30 so the upper run of the floor conveyor 30 that isadjacent the upper surface of the floor moves the field crop 14 in afirst direction towards the opening exposed by the unloading door 28when the unloading door 28 is opened. The drive motor is preferablycomprised of a hydraulic motor that is fluidly connected to the tractorpulling the present invention and with the speed of the floor conveyor30 adjustably controlled from the tractor. The faster the floor conveyor30 moves a corresponding increase in the volume of field crop 14discharged to the unloading conveyor 60 occurs and vice versa.

The lower run of the floor conveyor 30 that extends beneath the lowerfloor 22 moves in a second direction opposite of the first direction andaway from the opening exposed by the unloading door 28. The floorconveyor 30 is preferably comprised of a bar-type conveyor having aplurality of cross members 34 (with or without one piece rubber orflapped attachments) attached to chains 32 that extend transverse withrespect to a movement path of the floor conveyor 30 as illustrated inFIGS. 1 through 3 of the drawings. However, the floor conveyor 30 may becomprised of various other types of conveyors.

The hopper 20 is pivotally connected to the support frame 40 to allowthe unloading end to be lifted upwardly to the unloading position (FIG.2) and lowered downwardly to the loading position (FIG. 1). The hopper20 may be pivotally connected near the front end or the rear end of thesupport frame 40. However, it is preferable that the hopper 20 ispivotally connected to the support frame 40 at or near the rear end ofthe support frame 40 with the unloading end of the hopper 20 beinglocated in the front as illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 3 of thedrawings. The unloading end of the hopper 20 is preferably near thefront end of the support frame 40. The hopper 20 is pivotally connectedto the support frame 40 by one or more hinges 21 connected to or nearthe rear end of the support frame 40 and to the rear portion of thehopper 20 as best illustrated in FIG. 6 of the drawings.

The lower floor 22 of the hopper 20 is preferably substantiallyhorizontal when the hopper 20 is in the loading position as illustratedin FIGS. 1, 4, 8 a and 8 b of the drawings. The lower floor 22 ispreferably comprised of a flat and level planar structure to allow thefloor conveyor 30 to move along the upper surface of the lower floor 22.The lower floor 22 of the hopper 20 is angled upwardly, preferablybetween 10 and 15 degrees towards the unloading end when the hopper 20is in the unloading position. When the unloading end of the hopper 20 isat the front end, the lower floor 22 of the hopper 20 is angledupwardly, again at 10 to 15 degrees from the rear end of the hopper 20to the front end of the hopper 20 as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3 of thedrawings.

The hopper 20 may also include a second door opposite of the unloadingdoor 28 as illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 3 of the drawings. The figuresillustrate a rear door 26 opened and closed by one or more correspondingrear actuators 27. However, if the unloading door 28 is located in therear portion of the hopper 20 then the second door would be located atthe front portion of the hopper 20. The rear door 26 may be used tounload a field crop 14 or other particulate material from the hopper 20opposite of the unloading conveyor 60 by simply lifting the front end ofthe hopper 20 without moving the floor conveyor 30.

D. Actuators

One or more actuators 50, 52 are connected between the support frame 40and the hopper 20. It is preferable to have at least a first actuator 50and a second actuator 52 connected to opposing side portions of thesupport frame 40 and the hopper 20 as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3 ofthe drawings. However a single actuator 50, 52 may be used to lift andlower the hopper 20 between the loading position and the unloadingposition. The actuators 50, 52 are preferably comprised of hydraulicactuators that are fluidly connected to the hydraulic system of thetractor, however, the actuators 50, 52 may be comprised ofelectro-mechanical actuators.

The actuators 50, 52 are adapted to lift the unloading end of the hopper20 from a loading position into an unloading position. The loadingposition for the hopper 20 is for receiving the field crop 14 into thehopper 20 and the unloading position for the hopper 20 is for unloadingthe field crop 14 from the hopper 20.

The unloading end of the hopper 20 is preferably the front end of thehopper 20 with the unloading door 28 movably connected to the front endof the hopper 20 also to unload the field crop 14 from the front end ofthe hopper 20 when the front end of the hopper 20 is elevated at 10 to15 degrees. The actuators 50, 52 are preferably connected to a frontportion of the hopper 20 to lift the front end of the hopper 20 and theunloading conveyor 60 upwardly as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3 of thedrawings.

E. Unloading Conveyor

The unloading conveyor 60 is attached to the unloading end of the hopper20 and is adapted to receive and discharge a field crop 14 received fromthe hopper 20 when in the unloading position. The unloading conveyor 60is preferably comprised of a bar-type conveyor belt having a pluralityof cross bars and a plurality of slots, however, the unloading conveyor60 may be comprised of various other types of conveyors.

A drive motor moves the unloading conveyor 60 so the upper run of theunloading conveyor 60 moves the field crop 14 in a first directiontowards the discharge end of the unloading conveyor 60. The drive motoris preferably comprised of a hydraulic motor that is fluidly connectedto the tractor pulling the present invention and with the speed of theunloading conveyor 60 adjustably controlled from the tractor. The fasterthe unloading conveyor 60 moves a corresponding increase in the volumeof field crop 14 discharged to the unloading conveyor 60 occurs and viceversa.

The unloading conveyor 60 has an upper run that moves the field crop 14to the discharge end of the unloading conveyor 60 to discharge the fieldcrop 14 into a different vehicle or location. The unloading conveyor 60also has a lower run that provides a return for the unloading conveyor60. The longitudinal axis of the unloading conveyor 60 is preferablysubstantially transverse with respect to the longitudinal axis of thelower floor 22 of the hopper 20. The proximal end of the unloadingconveyor 60 is preferably near one of the sidewalls 24 of the hopper 20and the distal end of the unloading conveyor 60 extends outwardly awayfrom an opposite sidewall 24 to discharge the field crop 14 at anelevated height to a transport vehicle 12 as illustrated in FIG. 5e ofthe drawings.

The unloading conveyor 60 is downwardly angled from a rear edge to afront edge of the unloading conveyor 60 when the hopper 20 is in theloading position as best illustrated in FIG. 8b of the drawings. Theunloading conveyor 60 is substantially horizontal from the rear edge tothe front edge of the unloading conveyor 60 when the hopper 20 is in theunloading position as illustrated in FIG. 8c of the drawings. The angleof the unloading conveyor 60 with respect to the front end of the hopper20 corresponds to the change in angle when the hopper 20 is elevatedfrom the loading position to the unloading position so the unloadingconveyor 60 is substantially level when unloading the field crop 14 asillustrated in FIG. 8c of the drawings.

The unloading conveyor 60 is comprised of an elongated structure havinga longitudinal axis extending from a proximal end to a distal end. Theunloading conveyor 60 is adapted to be horizontal from the proximal endto the distal end when the hopper 20 is in the unloading position asillustrated in FIG. 5e of the drawings. The longitudinal axis of theunloading conveyor 60 is preferably substantially transverse withrespect to a longitudinal axis of the hopper 20. An upper end of theunloading conveyor 60 is positioned at or below the upper edge of theplurality of side walls when the hopper 20 is in the loading position toreduce the chance of engagement with the crop harvester or otherequipment as best illustrated in FIG. 4 of the drawings.

The unloading conveyor 60 is preferably comprised of a folding conveyoras illustrated in FIGS. 5a through 5e of the drawings. The unloadingconveyor 60 is comprised of a first segment 62 attached to the unloadingend of the hopper 20, a second segment 64 pivotally connected to adistal end of the first segment 62 and a third segment 66 pivotallyconnected to a distal end of the second segment 64 as best illustratedin FIGS. 5a through 5e of the drawings. The first segment 62 has a firstframe, the second segment 64 has a second frame and the third segment 66has a third frame that are independent movable with respect to oneanother in a pivotal manner. The first frame of the first segment 62 ispreferably non-movably attached to the front end of the hopper 20 suchthat the upper surface of the unloading conveyor 60 is at or below theupper surface of the lower floor 22 of the hopper 20 to receive thefield crop 14.

One or more inner actuators 70 are connected between the first segment62 and the second segment 64 of the unloading conveyor 60 to extend andretract the second segment 64 with respect to the first segment 62 asillustrated in FIGS. 5a through 5e of the drawings. One or more outeractuators 72 are connected between the second segment 64 and the thirdsegment 66 of the unloading conveyor 60 to extend and retract the thirdsegment 66 with respect to the second segment 64 as illustrated in FIGS.5a through 5e of the drawings.

One or more pivot frame structures pivotally support the pivotconnection between the second segment 64 and the third segment 66. Thepivot frame structures are each comprised of a first arm 74 pivotallyconnected to the second segment 64, a second arm 76 pivotally connectedto the third segment 66, and a connecting member 75 pivotally connectedbetween the arms 74, 76 as best illustrated in FIGS. 5c through 5e ofthe drawings. The outer actuators 72 are connected between theconnecting member 75 and the pivot joint between the second segment 64and the third segment 66 as further shown in FIGS. 5c through 5e of thedrawings.

F. Operation of Preferred Embodiment

In use, the user connects a tractor to the hitch 42 of the support frame40 and fluidly connects all of the actuators and drive motors to thehydraulic system of the tractor. Pulling the present invention alongsidea harvester with the hopper in the lowered loading position (FIG. 1),the harvester fills the hopper 20 with the field crop 14 such as sugarbeets. When the hopper 20 is full, the user pulls the present inventionto an unloading location to unload the field crop 14 to a transportvehicle 12 to be transported to a desired location (e.g. a processingfacility). The user first lifts the front end of the hopper 20 using theactuators 50, 52 as illustrated in FIG. 5a . Once the hopper 20 is fullyelevated to the unloading height, the user then extends the unloadingconveyor 60 outwardly to the extended position as illustrated in FIGS.5b through 5d of the drawings. The user then pulls forwardly alongsidethe transport vehicle 12 until the discharge end of the unloadingconveyor 60 is aligned with the desired unloading location in the box ofthe transport vehicle 12 as illustrated in FIG. 5e . The user then opensthe unloading door 28 and then activates both the floor conveyor 30 andthe unloading conveyor 60 to move the field crop 14 from the hopper 20to the unloading conveyor 60 and then into the box of the transportvehicle 12. Because the unloading conveyor 60 is horizontal orsubstantially horizontal during unloading, the field crop 14 does notroll back and less hydraulic fluid is required to move the field crop 14during unloading. Once the hopper 20 and unloading conveyor 60 areempty, the transport vehicle 12 pulls forwardly and away from thepresent invention. The user then lowers the hopper 20 to the loadingposition and retracts the unloading conveyor 60 as illustrated in FIG. 4of the drawings. The above process is repeated as necessary.

Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used hereinhave the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill inthe art to which this invention belongs. Although methods and materialssimilar to or equivalent to those described herein can be used in thepractice or testing of the present invention, suitable methods andmaterials are described above. All publications, patent applications,patents, and other references mentioned herein are incorporated byreference in their entirety to the extent allowed by applicable law andregulations. The present invention may be embodied in other specificforms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof,and it is therefore desired that the present embodiment be considered inall respects as illustrative and not restrictive. Any headings utilizedwithin the description are for convenience only and have no legal orlimiting effect.

What is claimed is:
 1. A crop cart, comprising: a support frame having afront end and a rear end; a plurality of tracks or a plurality of wheelsconnected to the support frame for movably supporting the support frameupon a ground surface; a hopper having an unloading opening within anunloading end of the hopper adapted for unloading a crop within thehopper, wherein the unloading end is comprised of a front end or a rearend of the hopper, and wherein the hopper is pivotally connected to thesupport frame near the front end or the rear end of the support frame;an actuator connected between the support frame and the hopper, whereinthe actuator is adapted to lift the unloading end of the hopper from aloading position into an unloading position, wherein the loadingposition for the hopper is for receiving the crop into the hopper andthe unloading position for the hopper is for unloading the crop from thehopper, and wherein the unloading end of the hopper is raised when thehopper is in the unloading position and wherein the unloading end of thehopper is lowered when the hopper is in the loading position; and anunloading conveyor having an inner edge and an outer edge opposite ofthe inner edge, the unloading conveyor attached to the hopper with theinner edge near the unloading end of the hopper, wherein the unloadingconveyor is adapted to receive and discharge the crop from the unloadingopening within the hopper, and wherein the unloading conveyor issubstantially horizontal from the inner edge to the outer edge of theunloading conveyor when the hopper is in the unloading position; whereinthe unloading conveyor is comprised of an elongated structure having alongitudinal axis extending from a proximal end to a distal end, whereinthe unloading conveyor is adapted to be horizontal from the proximal endto the distal end when the hopper is in the unloading position, whereinthe longitudinal axis of the unloading conveyor is substantiallytransverse with respect to a longitudinal axis of the hopper.
 2. Thecrop cart of claim 1, wherein the hopper is pivotally connected to thesupport frame by a hinge connected to or near the rear end of thesupport frame and to a rear portion of the hopper, wherein the unloadingend of the hopper is comprised of the front end of the hopper.
 3. Thecrop cart of claim 1, wherein the unloading end of the hopper iscomprised of the front end of the hopper.
 4. The crop cart of claim 1,wherein a lower floor of the hopper is angled upwardly towards theunloading end between 10 to 15 degrees when the hopper is in theunloading position.
 5. The crop cart of claim 1, wherein the unloadingconveyor is comprised of a first segment attached to the unloading endof the hopper and a second segment pivotally connected to a distal endof the first segment.
 6. The crop cart of claim 1, including anunloading door movably connected to the hopper to selectively close andopen the unloading opening, and an unloading actuator connected to thehopper and the unloading door to move the unloading door into a closedposition or an open position.
 7. The crop cart of claim 1, wherein theunloading conveyor is downwardly angled from the inner edge to the outeredge of the unloading conveyor when the hopper is in the loadingposition.
 8. A crop cart, comprising: a support frame having a front endand a rear end; a plurality of tracks or a plurality of wheels connectedto the support frame for movably supporting the support frame upon aground surface; a hopper having an unloading opening within an unloadingend of the hopper adapted for unloading a crop within the hopper,wherein the unloading end is comprised of a front end or a rear end ofthe hopper, and wherein the hopper is pivotally connected to the supportframe near the front end or the rear end of the support frame; anactuator connected between the support frame and the hopper, wherein theactuator is adapted to lift the unloading end of the hopper from aloading position into an unloading position, wherein the loadingposition for the hopper is for receiving the crop into the hopper andthe unloading position for the hopper is for unloading the crop from thehopper; and an unloading conveyor having an inner edge and an outer edgeopposite of the inner edge, the unloading conveyor attached to thehopper with the inner edge near the unloading end of the hopper, whereinthe unloading conveyor is adapted to receive and discharge a crop fromthe hopper, and wherein the unloading conveyor is substantiallyhorizontal from the inner edge to the outer edge of the unloadingconveyor when the hopper is in the unloading position.
 9. The crop cartof claim 8, wherein the hopper is pivotally connected to the supportframe by a hinge connected to or near the rear end of the support frameand to a rear portion of the hopper, wherein the unloading end of thehopper is comprised of the front end of the hopper.
 10. The crop cart ofclaim 8, wherein the unloading end of the hopper is comprised of thefront end of the hopper.
 11. The crop cart of claim 8, wherein a lowerfloor of the hopper is angled upwardly towards the unloading end between10 to 15 degrees when the hopper is in the unloading position.
 12. Thecrop cart of claim 8, wherein the unloading conveyor is comprised of afolding conveyor.
 13. The crop cart of claim 8, including an unloadingdoor movably connected to the hopper to selectively close and open theunloading opening, and an unloading actuator connected to the hopper andthe unloading door to move the unloading door into a closed position oran open position.
 14. The crop cart of claim 8, wherein the unloadingconveyor is downwardly angled from the inner edge to the outer edge ofthe unloading conveyor when the hopper is in the loading position.
 15. Acrop cart, comprising: a support frame having a front end and a rearend; a plurality of tracks or a plurality of wheels connected to thesupport frame for movably supporting the support frame upon a groundsurface; a hopper having an unloading opening within an unloading end ofthe hopper adapted for unloading a crop within the hopper, wherein theunloading end is comprised of a front end or a rear end of the hopper,and wherein the hopper is pivotally connected to the support frame nearthe front end or the rear end of the support frame; an actuatorconnected between the support frame and the hopper, wherein the actuatoris adapted to lift the unloading end of the hopper from a loadingposition into an unloading position, wherein the loading position forthe hopper is for receiving the crop into the hopper and the unloadingposition for the hopper is for unloading the crop from the hopper; andan unloading conveyor having an inner edge and an outer edge opposite ofthe inner edge, the unloading conveyor attached to the hopper with theinner edge near the unloading end of the hopper, wherein the unloadingconveyor is adapted to receive and discharge a crop from the hopper;wherein the unloading conveyor is comprised of an elongated structurehaving a longitudinal axis extending from a proximal end to a distalend, wherein the unloading conveyor is adapted to be horizontal from theproximal end to the distal end when the hopper is in the unloadingposition; wherein the longitudinal axis of the unloading conveyor issubstantially transverse with respect to a longitudinal axis of thehopper; and wherein the unloading conveyor is comprised of a foldingconveyor.
 16. The crop cart of claim 15, wherein the unloading conveyoris comprised of a first segment attached to the unloading end of thehopper, and a second segment pivotally connected to a distal end of thefirst segment.
 17. The crop cart of claim 15, wherein the hopper ispivotally connected to the support frame by a hinge connected to or nearthe rear end of the support frame and to a rear portion of the hopper,wherein the unloading end of the hopper is comprised of the front end ofthe hopper.
 18. The crop cart of claim 15, wherein the unloading end ofthe hopper is comprised of the front end of the hopper.
 19. The cropcart of claim 15, wherein a lower floor of the hopper is angled upwardlytowards the unloading end between 10 to 15 degrees when the hopper is inthe unloading position.
 20. The crop cart of claim 15, including anunloading door movably connected to the hopper to selectively close andopen the unloading opening, and an unloading actuator connected to thehopper and the unloading door to move the unloading door into a closedposition or an open position.